Vessel clamp



March 18, 1930. DRUMM 1,751,079

VES SEL CLAMP Filed Aug. 5, 1928 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER E. DRUMM, OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALUMINUM GOODS 'MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 015 MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN VESSEL CLAMP Application filed August 3, 1928. Serial No.'297,174.

This invention pertains to clamps for vessel covers, and particularly cooking vessels, wherein it'is desired'to obtain a tight seal between the cover and vessel.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient clamp, which will resiliently clamp the cover on a vessel, and which will avoid scratching or otherwise marring the outer surface of the vessel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinged cover clamp with means for yieldably retaining the same in unlatched position on the cover to prevent interference of the clamp between the cover and vessel as they are assembled. I

Another object, incidental to the foregoing,

is to provide a two-piece, hinged clamp,-

wherein the attaching member secured to the cover is provided with a resilient arm normally urging the latching member into engagement with the vessel.

A still further object resides in forming a depending head on the vessel for engagement by the latching member, whereby the latter has a tendency to firmly Wedge itself between the bead and vessel and thus prevent accidental unlatehing of the clamp.

With the above and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of the claims. In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a vessel and cover, with a clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention attached thereto, parts of the latter being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details.

Figure 2iis a plan view of the clamp. Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates any type of cooking vessel, provided adjacent its top with a depending, annular bead 2 spaced slightly away from the wall of the vessel. The. head 2 terminates in an outwardly flared lip 3 having a bead 4 formed on the top thereof.

The interior of the bead-2 forms a seat for the reception of a cover 5 provided with a reinforcing head 6 cooperating with said seat.

\Vhile the structure of the vessel has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any specific structure of vessel or cover, as the present clamp might be attached to a cover of any structure, and may engage any type of head formed on the vessel. However, the vessel structure described to function more efficiently, and also serves to form a tighter seal between the cover and vessel, inasmuch as the seat for receiving the cover will also serve to collect vapor and moisture generated within the vessel, to form a water seal.

The form of clamp illustrated comprises an attaching member 7 formed of resilient material, and secured to the top of the cover 5'by rivets, or other suit-able means. The attaching member 7 is provided with a resilient arm 8 extending outwardly from the innor end'of the attaching member and terminating in an eye 9 which receives the pintle 10. Mounted on the pintle is a latching member 11, the lower end of which tern'linates in an outwardly flared handle 12. That material adjacent both sides of the handle is bent inwardly and terminates in eyes 13 for the reception of a pin 14 on which is mounted an engaging roller 1.5.

In operative position the roller 15 engages the vessel below the bead 2 and against. the side wall, and inasmuch as the same passes over the center of the bead, its natural tendency is to wedge itself between the bead and wall of the vessel, thus insuring a secure engagement to prevent accidental unlatching. The upper end of the latching member ltlll ll, adjacent its hinged connection with the attaching member, is provided with a clependhave hereunto set my hand at Manitowoc,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I ing lip 16 provided with spaced eyes 19 for in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wisreceiving the pin 20 on which is mounted the cousin.

roller 21. v

The radial distance of the roller 21 from the pintle 10 is slightly greater than the distance from the pint-1e tothe upper face of that portion of the attaching members secured to the cover. Consequently, as the latching member 11 is swung upwardly to disengage the vessel, the pintle 10 must yield upwardly to permit the roll to pass, and after the same has passed over the attaching member, the

a latching member will be yieldably held in raised position to prevent the same from dropping down and interfering with the assembly of the cover on the vessel.

Due to the fact that the attaching member iseformed of resilient material, it is obvious that the clamping member may be formed of rigid material, thus reducing the cost. Also, the resiliency of the attaching member eliminates the necessity of forming the depending lip 16 of resilient material.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a comparatively simple, inexpensive, and efficient clamp ha! been provided, which will resiliently clamp the cover on a vessel to form a tight seal, and which, due to the provision of rollers for engaging the vessel and attaching member, avoids any possibility of scratching or marring the exposed surfaces.

I claim:

1. A vessel cover clamp comprising a resilient attaching member for securement to a. cover, a clamping member hinged thereto, a roller carried by the lower end of said clamping member for engaging a portion of the vessel, and means carried by the clamping member for yieldably retaining the same in raised position, said means comprising an oiliet tongue, and an engaging roll carried there- 2. A vessel cover clamp comprising an attaching member for securement to a cover, a resilient arm extending from said member, a clamping member hinged to said arm, an outwardly flared handle extending from said clamping member, a roller carried by the lower end of said clamping member for engagement. below a bead of the vessel, an offset tongue extending from the clamping member adjacent its hinged end, and a roller carried by the lower end of said tongue for yieldably retaining said clamping member in raised position.

3. A vessel cover clamp comprising a resilient attaching member for securement to a cover, a clamping member hinged thereto and adapted to engage a portion of the vessel, a tongue carried by the clamping member and a roller carried by the tongue for yieldably engaging the cover to retain the clamping memher in a raised position.

ELMER' E. DRUMM. 

